If It’s You, I Might Try Falling in Love Volume 2 Review
“I came here to give you my answer.” Ryuuji to Amane
Amane has left the big city and is now living with his grandma in Enoshima (by the ocean!) and attending a new high school. He’s made friends with Ryuuji whose family run a local restaurant – but now he realizes he wants more than friendship with Ryuuji; he’s fallen for him. And that’s dangerous because his love life so far has been a disaster – and Ryuuji, though a kind-hearted and caring friend, might not be gay.
As summer break approaches, Ryuuji becomes busier helping out at the family restaurant and we learn that – before his father died – he told him, “I know that our family and the restaurant will be in good hands.” Amane (who loves food) is invited to dinner at Ryuuji’s house where he meets his mother and younger brother and sister. After dinner, he and Ryuuji are talking outside as night falls and Ryuuji tells him, “I’ve been trying to take care of them…ever since my dad died” and goes on to thank Amane for being so supportive. Amane can’t help himself and hugs him, saying, “I’m in love with you” but before he can explain or Ryuuji can react, Ryuuji’s mother appears, calling her son back in and Amane instantly switches back into carefree mode, swiftly taking his leave.
Amane is now afraid that he’s ruined everything – but Ryuuji, having given Amane’s confession some careful thought (he’s that kind of a boy) suggests they skip the final assembly of term and go somewhere secluded to talk. In the ‘sacred grounds’ of a temple he asks Amane to speak frankly and explain what he meant. Is this the end of their friendship? Or is there still hope that he acknowledges – and maybe even reciprocates – Amane’s feelings?
There are some manga that seem to capture just the right note for their characters and the situation they find themselves in and If It’s You, I Might Try Falling in Love is turning out to be one of those. (Credit to translator Avery Hutley here!) It’s quiet – there are no big emotional fireworks (although there are fireworks because it’s Japan and late summer) – but the feelings slowly evolving between Ryuuji and Amane are no less deeply felt. This really is a heart-warming story – and although it’s the mangaka’s first published series, it feels very accomplished.
My only slight disappointment? The physical presentation of the series seems to have been somewhat skimped: instead of being given the full trade paperback edition like so many others from Yen Press, it’s mass market size. This wouldn’t matter so much if the paper were better but this is not of the best quality which doesn’t help the look of the art. There are no colour pages, and the binding of my copy (glue) isn’t great. It just feels as if not very much love/budget was lavished on this one and yet I feel the quality of the story-telling and the characterization deserves better. (It’s at least as good as Minato’s Laundromat and Senpai, This Can’t Be Love, both of which have been given the trade paperback treatment and all three series have been turned into BL TV dramas.) That said, the translation by Avery Hutley is spot-on, as is the lettering by Elena Pizarro Lanzas, and both bring the heartfelt conversations to life very effectively. At the time of writing, there is no date from Yen Press for Volume 3 (the series is ongoing at six volumes in Japan).
If It’s You, I Might Try Falling in Love is developing into a likable and sympathetic Boys’ Love series; it’s very pleasing to see the hints laid down in the first volume being developed in a believable and touching way. So if you like slow-burn Boys’ Love relationship stories where the emphasis is on the feels rather than the sex, this is a definite must-read! (Oh, and we do see a little more of Tarusuke the cat who brings about the boys’ first meeting…)
Our review copy was supplied by Yen Press.
